'Big-time soccer city' - Charlotte selected to host 2026 MLS All-Star Game, bringing event to one of the league's largest stadiums

CHARLOTTE - Major League Soccer 2026 All-Star Game will be held at Charlotte FC's Bank of America Stadium, the league announced Wednesday.

Charlotte will host the annual mid-summer event for the first time in the club's history, bringing the festivities to one of the league's largest stadiums. Charlotte FC was second in the league in attendance during the 2024 regular season, averaging over 33,000 fans per game.

The All-Star Game, though, has generally been held in soccer-specific stadiums across the league, with the 2026 edition the first to be held in an NFL-sized venue since Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosted in 2018.

The 2025 MLS All-Star Game will be held in Austin on July 23.

The MLS All-Star Game has undergone a number of changes in recent years, with the league largely settling on a format in which its top players take on a similar All-Star team representing Mexico's Liga MX. Save for the 2023 edition, a clash with Arsenal, MLS has taken on Liga MX in three of the last four years - and will do so again in next week's event.

In addition to the All-Star Game, the event this year will feature multiple events, including the All-Star Skills Challenge, the MLS NEXT All-Star Game and the Special Olympics All-Star Game. MLS has announced that the event in Charlotte will also include an MLS All-Star Soccer Celebration, which will feature community programming and entertainment for fans.

The date and opponent for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game has not been announced.

“Charlotte has turned into a big-time soccer city, and we are pleased to bring the 2026 MLS All-Star Game to the Queen City,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “The city and region keep showing up for the sport - from packed Charlotte FC crowds to global events like the FIFA Club World Cup and Copa America the past two summers. We’re excited to bring another marquee soccer event to Charlotte.”

The league will have games Wednesday night and this weekend ahead of MLS All-Star Game in Austin next week.